Johnson & Johnson Faces Trial over Alleged Role in Oklahoma Opioid Epidemic

Johnson & Johnson has gone on trial in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by the US state of Oklahoma. The company is one of the world’s largest drug manufacturers and is on trial for their alleged role in spreading the opioid epidemic.

According to prosecutors, the firm created a public nuisance in the state that cost Oklahoma billions of dollars. Johnson & Johnson denies this claim. The lawsuit accuses the firm of deceptively marketing painkillers and downplaying addiction risks. This allegedly fueled the opioid epidemic, which is killing hundreds of Americans every day. Around 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The company, however, denies wrongdoing and says it marketed the products responsibly.

This is the first of 2,000 cases brought by state, local, and tribal governments against pharmaceutical companies in the US, following the breakout of the opioid crisis. Of the 70,200 people who died from an overdose in 2017, 68 percent involved a prescription medication or illegal opioid.

In its court filing, Oklahoma alleged that Johnson & Johnson was the “kingpin” behind the “worst man-made public health crisis in the state’s history”, growing and importing raw materials that other drug makers used for their own products.

During the opening statements, the state said that Johnson & Johnson, along with Purdue Pharma and Teva Pharmaceuticals, had pushed doctors to prescribe more opioids in the 1990s by using misleading marketing. These top drug manufacturers are now at the center of many lawsuits over their alleged role in the opioid epidemic. Earlier, Teva Pharmaceuticals reached an $85 million settlement with the state of Oklahoma, denying any wrongdoings on the part of their company.

Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, is the creator of the prescription painkiller OxyContin. Members of the Sackler family are named in multiple lawsuits across the United States. Purdue hopes to reach a settlement for these lawsuits.

Purdue has already reached a $270 million settlement with Oklahoma in a separate case. The Sackler family has been charged with fraudulently transferring money from the company to their personal accounts to protect its funds from litigation.

State lawyer Brad Beckworth said that Johnson & Johnson marketed opioids as “safe and effective for everyday pain” while downplaying their addictive qualities. This allegedly helped create a drug oversupply. “If you have an oversupply, people will die,” said Beckworth.

Oklahoma’s state general Mike Hunter told the court that it was time to hold the companies “responsible for their actions”. “To put it bluntly, this crisis is devastating Oklahoma,” Hunter said.

Lawyer Larry Ottaway, representing Johnson & Johnson, said that the company’s marketing statements were no different to those made by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2009 which said painkillers, when properly managed, rarely caused addictions. Click the link to see Atlanta's top rehab placement programs.

“We're not mocking anyone, but facts are stubborn things,” he said. The company argues that the public nuisance law does not apply in this instance. While the company is known for its baby powder and baby shampoo products, Johnson & Johnson also produces a Fentanyl patch that can be prescribed for severe pain.

Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid analgesics. These drugs change the way the body feels and responds to pain. However, it is also used by some as a recreational drug, often mixed with heroin or cocaine.

Fentanyl has become a large part of America’s opioid crisis, despite not being a prescription medication like the other opioids.

If someone in the family is struggling with opioid or alcohol addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against drug abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.